NC weather service issues red flag wildfire warning

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NC weather service issues red flag wildfire warning

RALEIGH — The National Weather Service is warning that conditions in much of central North Carolina are ripe for severe fire danger.

The agency issued a red flag warning Thursday for 31 counties, citing low humidity and strong winds as creating the potential for wildfires.

A red flag warning means the conditions exist for any fire that starts to quickly burn out of control if it is close to fuel sources.

The counties affected include all of the Piedmont.

Dry fuels such as grass, leaves, pine needles and twigs combined with gusty northwest winds and very low relative humidity may create an environment in which fires can rapidly grow or spread out of control.